Chelsea are reportedly preparing a €30m move for Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra after the midfielder’s proposed switch to Leeds United collapsed. The 21-year-old Senegal international, who captains the Ligue 1 side, had been close to joining the Premier League newcomers before talks broke down due to a failure to reach personal terms.
Now, Chelsea have emerged as serious contenders to sign the versatile midfielder. The London club is looking to seize the opportunity amid growing interest from Aston Villa, Everton, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Blues, who share ownership with Strasbourg under the BlueCo umbrella, have already been actively exchanging talent between both clubs. Mathis Amougou and Kendry Paez are set to go out on loan to the French side this summer, while Strasbourg continue to push for a permanent deal for goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, with Chelsea valuing him at €30m.
Diarra’s potential arrival at Stamford Bridge might not see him feature immediately for the senior squad. Instead, reports suggest Chelsea could loan him out to one of the other interested clubs. The strategy would be to develop his game further, increase his market value, and potentially sell him for a higher fee in the near future.
With his talent and room to grow, Diarra is seen as a player with high resale potential. If the transfer materializes, he could become another example of Chelsea’s growing multi-club strategy, where young talents are acquired, loaned, and developed across the network.
While the move is still in early stages, Chelsea’s interest highlights their ongoing collaboration with Strasbourg and long-term squad planning built around youth and value creation.